Cricket 2017: Devon Tour (3rd – 7th July)

Devon Tours always provide a tough challenge with four games on consecutive days, but they are also hugely enjoyable and a fitting reward for our top cricketers at the end of a busy term. The 2017 tour proved to be no exception. Founders Evening on the Monday meant that the squad had to travel separately in two groups with the Upper Sixth players coming down by train the next morning. However, this resulted in additional space for kit bags in the minibus and a comfortable journey in under three and a half hours to our ‘luxury’ accommodation in Lyme Regis in good time for dinner, an evening stroll into town and along the beachfront, indoor games (pool, table-tennis etc), a late-night horror film (cert 15!) and bed.

The opening fixture of the tour took place at Exeter School and after collecting the five upper sixth boys from the station, we had plenty of time to relax and prepare for the game. Batting first after losing the toss, and despite the early dismissal of Amaan Lakhani, Habs were soon on top as Freddie Wright (83) and captain Jordan Urban (55) added 119 runs for the 2nd wicket at almost 6 an over before the latter was caught shortly after the drinks break with the score on 132. Wright, after a nervous start during which he played and missed on several occasions, unfurled a series of fine shots to reach his highest score for the 1st XI and appeared to be on his way to a maiden century at this level when he became the fifth man to be dismissed with 200 on the board. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals thereafter as the run rate slowed and it was left to Vinosh Jegatheesan (37*) to ensure that we posted a competitive total. Our final wicket fell to the first ball of the 40th over by which time, however, we had reached a healthy 246. In the eventthis total proved far too much for our hosts, who were missing a number of their regular players, and, with Wright and Nikhil Chavda both picking up three wickets, Exeter School were dismissed for 105 in the 29th over, 141 runs adrift. An opportunity for Messrs Charlwood and Kerry to thank the Upper Sixth, the second half of the film and the latest episode of ‘Love Island’ provided the evening entertainment.

The following day we played Exeter CC at the County Ground in Exeter, wishing once again that we could build a new pavilion similar to theirs back at Elstree! On another hot afternoon the home side, including several overseas players from Australia and South Africa, unsurprisingly opted to bat first but were kept in check by a fine opening salvo from Naresh Rasakulasuriar, well supported at the other end by George Lawrence. Indeed, when the latter held on to sharp chancelow down at first slip off Rasakulasuriar’s bowling, we were on top. Unfortunately, the batsman queried whether the ‘catch’ had carried and as both umpires were unsighted the wicket was not given. It was not until the tea interval that the ‘truth’ emerged, thanks to some stunning camera work from the watching Lawrence senior! Meanwhile the strong Exeter CC XI began to pile on the pressure and the run rate gradually increased. However, the Habs bowlers and fielders stuck well to their tasks and took their chances when they came. Rasakulasuriar returned for a second spell and claimed a superb hat-trick, eventually finishing with figures of 5 for 14 from his eight overs, as Exeter CC were restricted to 202 for 9 from their full allocation of 40 overs. In reply, Freddie Wright (35) and his brother Ben (11) started in positive fashion, putting on 48 together before the fall of the first wicket in the 9th over. Thereafter, Urban (10) and Kaye (25) struggled against tight bowling and both were guilty of giving their wickets away as our all too familiar batting frailties emerged once again. Rasakulasuriar (28), SudeepKhadka (11) and Taif Choudhury (17) tried hard to get us back on track, but the task proved beyond us and we were dismissed for a disappointing 185, 18 runs short of our target...another game lost when we should have won!

Our batting was even worse at Exmouthagainst a Devon Dumplings XI, including a strong South African element, with only Urban (56) demonstrating the necessary application. 57 for 2 in the 13th over quickly became 73 for 4 two overs later and then, with the score on exactly100, we managed to lose four more wickets for the addition of no runs at all! Our final total of 129 all out was particularly embarrassing in the circumstances and proved, as expected, impossible to defend. There was a wicket apiece for our three spinners Choudhury, Lakhani and Saavan Shah and also one for seamer Jack Ronayne, but the opposition reached their target comfortably with six wickets and fourteen overs to spare. Fortunately, the rest of the day was somewhat more enjoyable as the tour party and the supporting parents were entertained by the Yeabsleys at their home in Branscombe.

The final match of the tour (and season) against Devon Under-16s took place as usual at Cloakham Lawn, the home of Axminster CC, and we found ourselves bowling first after captain Urban called incorrectlyfor the third time in four games. At the first drinks break after 17 overs the score was 73 for 2, but the county side increased the tempo and were rattling along at 5 runs an over when the 3rd wicket fell in the 26th over with the score on 125. At this point, excellent spells from the spinners Shah and Lakhani, backed up by good fielding, helped to put a break on the scoring before the seamers Lawrence, Rasakulasuriar and Freddie Wright, the latter pair with three wickets each, returned to dismiss the opposition for 229 after the first ball of the 50th over. In reply our openers Lakhani and Wright went cheaply, but a superb partnership between Urban (106*) and stand-in wicket-keeper Saul Kaye (53) took the score from 41 for 2 to 181 for 3 in just 25 overs and effectively won the game. Urban went on to complete a well-deserved century, his second in just over a week, and fittingly was still there at the end when Jegatheesan (11*) struck the winning boundary to secure a fine six wicket victory with five overs to

spare in what was probably the performance of the season. It was also the 100th win for the Cricket Club as a whole this term. Certainly the journey home was more enjoyable than the previous two years, even if the singing sounded more like strangling a cat!

Many thanks of course must go to Josee Beeson and her husband Paul for allowing us to stay at their‘hotel’ in Lyme Regis and for ensuring that the food available was more than up to the usual standard. Doug and Jackie Yeabsley will always remain a part of the Devon ‘experience’, but Josee’s hospitality means that the tour will continue to feature on our fixture list for the foreseeable future. Thank you also to all the parents who supported us on tour and indeed throughout the season. Your presence at the various grounds is always much appreciated. Finally thank you to all members of the 1st XI, particularly the departing U6, for all you have done for the Cricket Club. Results may nothave gone our way at times this year, but overall you have exceeded our expectations and watching you play has always been enjoyable.

SDC

Devon Tour Results

Match 1Habs246 (40 overs) (F Wright 83, Urban 55)

Exeter School105 (F Wright 3-19, Chavda 3-31)

Habs won by 141 runs

Match 2Exeter CC202 for 9 (40 overs) (Rasakulasuriar 5 for 14)

Habs 185 (F Wright 35)

Exeter CC won by 17 runs

Match 3Habs129 (40 overs) (Urban 56)

Devon D’plings CC130 for 4

Devon Dumplings CC won by 6 wickets

Match 4Devon U16 CCC229 (50 overs) (F Wright 3-27, Rasakulasuriar 3-48)

Habs231 for 4 (Urban 106*, Kaye 53)

Habs won by 6 wickets

Cricket 2017: Devon Tour

Habs v Exeter School / Habs v Exeter School
Habs v Exeter CC / Habs v Exeter CC
Habs v Devon Dumplings CC / Habs v Devon Dumplings CC
Habs v Devon U16 CCC / Habs v Devon U16 CCC